K Sivan: A humble farmer's son's journey to ISRO top job

KANYAKUMARI/CHENNAI: A humble son of a farmer who studied in local government schools in Tamil medium at Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu is now heading India's premier Space agency ISRO.

K Sivan, now Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre,who is the Secretary of Space Department and Chairman of Space Commission and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is a native of Tarakkanvilai in Kanyakumari district.

"Sivan hails from a very ordinary family. His father was a farmer. He is the first graduate in the family", his uncle A Shunmugavel said.

Recalling Sivan's student days, Shunmugavel told PTI that the rocket expert was "self-made, studious and hard working. He never went to any tuition or coaching classes."

He studied in government schools in Tarakkanvilai his native village and at neighbouring Valangumaravilai in Tamil medium. Later, he graduated from ST Hindu College in Nagercoil, he said.

Sivan graduated from Madras Institute of Technology in aeronautical engineering in 1980 and completed Master of Engineering in Aerospace engineering from IISc, Bangalore in 1982.

Subsequently, he completed his PhD in Aerospace engineering from IIT, Bombay in 2006.

He joined ISRO in 1982 in Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) project and contributed immensely towards end to end mission planning, mission design, mission integration and analysis. He held various responsibilities during his stint in ISRO.

He has received various awards throughout his career, including Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Sathyabama University, Chennai in April 2014 and Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research award for 1999.